Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-10
bucket a. TIE END OF a rope, LII 1t was
within reach, when it was eagerly secured

within reach, when it was eagerly secured
from below.
There was a strong brotherlv feeling
among the East Tennessecaus, and not
less in our party. So the division Of the
food-a matter Of great importance-was
scrupulously fair, the weak getting US
much as any Of the rest. There was but
q tiny fragment Of corn bread and q still
smaller slice of unsavory meat for each,
not one-fourth as much as I could have
eaten with the hearty appetite I stu re-
tanned. l felt hungrier after devour-
ing it than before. twas now nearly
8 O'Clock, and we were told by the old
citizens Of the jail that meals were only
served twice a day, and that we would got
no more till the middle Of the afternoon.
They also encouraged us by saying that
after we had been in there for O month or
two, we would not feel so hungry! It was
not hard to believe this; in fact, we
thought that less time than that would
cure our hunger forever!
There was now a feeble glImnler of
light in our den, by means Of which we
could form a better idea OF its character
than on the preceding evening. But there
was nothing reassuring in tho survey.
Our eyes had become used to the feeble
twilight, which was all that ever visited
us here, and we could look on each others
pallid faces. The Union men had not
been able to change their garments for
months; no water was ever given to them
or to US for washing; and their faces wore
a look of hopeless misery, in the majority
Of cases, which was terribly pathetic.
Under no circumstance did Il spirits
sink so low, ordid we suffer SO much from
mere imprisonment, rs did these men.
The very danger we were in, the assurance
that u fate, one way or the other, would
probably be determined In q short time,
the confidence in u " power to make
q bold strike for freedom if the faintest
chance was allowed, and still more the
sense Of comradeship, and the interest in
telling u stories, and cheering each
otllcr-M these contributed to make US
bear up courageously.
During the day G. D. Wilson, Dorsey,
Buffum, Bcnsinger, Porter and Hawkins
came in. They told an interesting series
Of adventures. After capture they were
taken to Ringgold, and the SAN evening
to Marietta, where they had been placed
in Il prison but little inferior in every vile
element to our present abode. They were
guarded by a heavy force of cadets from
the military school ut Marietta, and mar
rowly escaped q mob. They finally heard
Il clanking OF chains, and were called out
and chained by the necks in couples, md
also handcutfcd. Then they were taken
north over the line of our fiery chase, and
stopped at Dalton. While waiting here,
some of the ladies' came with their ser
wants and brought them n really first
class supper. This was one Of the few
pleasant incidents in this part of our his
tory. Dorsey complains that he and his
companions were not accustomed to eat
with irons on, and that they were not
very graceful. The ladies probably cX-
cuscd them, for two Of their number drew
near and talked with them, weeping
freely. One lady gave Dorsey q rose,
which he preserved as long az he could.
Therc was Il mob outside threatening to
attack them, and seemingly the mob Oh.
ragged by the presence Of the ladies. But
the guards withstood bravely, and they
reached Chattanooga in safety, where
.hcy were taken to a hotel to await
orders, and the landlord at his own cost
gave them a good breakfast. Then they
were brought to us in the Swims Jail. On
the way through the crowded street, Will,
their chains, Il loud voiced man called out,
"Will them hounds hunt" Had they
been free lie might soon have learned.